It was a Monday evening, the day that the Columbus Planned Parenthood is open the
latest. We were on the side of Planned Parenthood giving instructions to a new monthly
volunteer and praying together as we switched out shifts. We almost missed a young Hispanic woman leaving and walking towards the street. The new volunteer, Dom, was able to catch her before she crossed the road and let her know that we can help her. Then, he realized she only spoke Spanish. Thanks be to God this was one of the four shifts we
have someone who fluently speaks Spanish on the sidewalk. The woman waited patiently
as our last piece of Spanish literature and our volunteer named Sandra made it over to her.
Sandra learned that the young woman was named “Mariana.” She had just left her consultation appointment. She had recently immigrated to America and is living in a small apartment with several other people. She did not have a job. She was in debt with two months of unpaid rent. She was Catholic and knew abortion was wrong, but she had no idea how she could care for her child. As this was the day that Planned Parenthood is open late into the evening, the pregnancy center across the street was already closed. (We now know to direct mothers to another location that is open during that time.)

Sandra jumped into action! She explained all the help available to Mariana and her child.She directed Mariana’s mind and heart to the grace and provision of God. She gently helped Mariana see that abortion was really killing a child, just the same as killing a born baby would be. This really impacted Mariana’s thinking. They made a plan to go to the Women’s Care Center the next day. That evening, Sandra got Mariana dinner and took her to a perpetual adoration chapel to sit before Jesus our Eucharistic Lord. Sandra even brought Maria to work at her cleaning business and split her own income with Mariana.

After her visit for an ultrasound to see her baby and to hear about help at the Women’s Care Center, we were able to help Mariana pay several months of rent and look for a job. Through all of this, Mariana chose life for her baby and now has a job! Thanks be to God! She is continuing to trust in God’s grace and going to Mass at a church a few minutes from her home. She will be starting prenatal care soon. Please continue to pray for her!

Mariana is just one of the 66 mothers we were able to talk to outside the abortion facilities this month alone. We had 7 other mothers cancel appointments at the facilities, one in tears of joy as she chose life. We pray that all of them and many more rescued their children though! This is because of your support and the new constant presence at the facilities. Fifteen new people volunteered just this month. A Knights of Columbus group working together to fill a weekly shift had a mother turn-away their first time out!

Our street outreach at The Ohio State University encouraged many pro-life students and shared the faith with several who took a Gospel according to Luke or rosaries. We had a profound encounter with a fallen-away Catholic who recently started believing in God again and wants to return to living the faith. These souls and these children are reached only because of your support! May God bless you!